Kenya halts cult site exhumations for DNA tests
Officials shift focus to autopsies as families await identification of victims
Kenyan authorities have halted exhumations at a suspected cult site in Kilifi County to focus on autopsies and DNA identification of the remains recovered. The site, located in Kwa Binzaro forest, has been under investigation since early August due to reports of mass graves associated with a doomsday cult. Coast Regional Commissioner Rhoda Onyacha confirmed that all identified graves have been exhausted, and a multi-agency team will continue further searches.
Recent interventions have occurred in Kilifi and neighboring Kwale counties, targeting gatherings linked to similar cult activities, resulting in arrests in Magarini for encouraging harmful behaviors among followers. Human rights groups are advocating for increased government oversight of religious organizations, emphasizing the need for serious attention to the issue.
Families with missing relatives are urged to provide DNA samples to assist in identifying the remains. The investigation aims to uncover the full extent of the cult's activities and the number of victims involved. In the past week, 32 bodies have been exhumed in southeastern Kenya, raising concerns about the government's commitment to addressing extremist sects, especially following the deaths of over 400 individuals linked to a doomsday cult two years prior.
The bodies found in Kwa Binzaro are believed to be connected to the same Christian sect responsible for the Shakahola Forest deaths. Search operations continue, with workers in protective gear combing through dense thickets. Kwa Binzaro is approximately 30 km from Shakahola, where cult leader Paul Mackenzie allegedly instructed followers to starve themselves. Mackenzie, facing charges of murder and terrorism, has denied the allegations.
In response to the discoveries, the government has pledged to enhance oversight of religious organizations and strengthen community surveillance. Relatives of cult members are anxiously awaiting DNA test results to determine if their loved ones are among the deceased. One family member expressed confusion over how his relatives became deeply involved in the cult.
